21st Century

The 21st century saw the dawn of the war on terrorism, as the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing dramatically changed society. Economic issues moved to the forefront during the Great Recession. The COVID-19 pandemic upended lives and economies around the world. Awareness of social inequality grew as the killings of Black Americans, including Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, spurred widespread protests.

Featured Overview

Volunteers from the 9/11 Tribute Center reflect on the importance of sharing their stories of 9/11 with future generations.

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Boston Marathon Bombing

John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Featured Overview

Volunteers from the 9/11 Tribute Center reflect on the importance of sharing their stories of 9/11 with future generations.

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Start Here

In the wake of the attacks of 9/11, President George W. Bush called for a global "War on Terror," launching an ongoing effort to thwart terrorists before they act.

How Levee Failures Made Hurricane Katrina a Bigger Disaster

Breaches in the system of levees and floodwalls left 80 percent of the city underwater.

Look back at 14 events, achievements, tragedies and otherwise memorable moments that stood out during the 2010s.

COVID-19

The 2020 outbreak of the infectious respiratory disease known as COVID-19 triggered one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history.

Here’s What Caused the Great Recession

Here's What Caused the Great Recession

Discover the confluence of events that prompted the Great Recession in America and its main culprit: the subprime mortgage housing crisis. Learn how the Great Recession affected the economy and how it differed from the Great Depression of the 1930s.

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Explore All Related Topics

21st Century

In 2015, a pediatrician discovers that Flint Michigan's water supply changed sources and ran the risk of being tainted by lead. Against public criticism, she fought to expose the problem to the wider public.

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Video footage captured on September 11th, 2001, reveals the moment tragedy struck and the moments following.

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Civil War secrets found in a battlefield garbage pile. A jewel thief in a powdered wig who hastened Marie Antoinette’s downfall. A Supreme Court showdown started by barmaids. Discover 25 fascinating—and often overlooked—moments that made history.

Twin Towers, New York City

On the morning of 9/11 in New York City, ordinary people picked up video cameras and recorded. This is what they saw—and how they reflected on the experience years later.

COVID-19

The 2020 outbreak of the infectious respiratory disease known as COVID-19 triggered one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history.

Boston Marathon Bombing

The April 15, 2013 bombing inflicted horror on a beloved Boston tradition and led to one of the most intensive manhunts in history.

6 Groundbreaking Innovations by Arab Americans, Heart surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey

Americans born in or with ancestral ties to Arab-speaking countries have made countless significant scientific, medical and engineering contributions.

Arab American Heritage Month

Celebrating the rich and diverse culture and contributions of of the diverse population of Arab Americans, National Arab American Heritage Month has been observed during the month of April since 2017.

A nurse prepares the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine a public housing project pop-up site targeting vulnerable communities in Los Angeles, California on March 10, 2021.

The year 2021 saw political turmoil, the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, an unusual Olympic Games, devastating natural disasters, advances in space exploration and more.

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaking out of doors.

The first Indigenous cabinet member in U.S. history, Haaland hails from a lineage of 35 generations based in New Mexico.

The FAA Control tower and Concourse "C" at Denver International Airport.

Here’s how the profession’s most chaotic—and harrowing—day unfolded.

The World Trade Center, by the Numbers

From the foundation to the elevators, everything about the Twin Towers was supersized.

After 9/11: 5 Cultural Moments That Helped Americans Move Forward

From David Letterman's emotional monologue to George W. Bush's World Series first pitch, these collective experiences helped the nation process its shock and grief.

U.S. Army soldiers from the 101st Airborne division off load during a combat mission from a Chinook 47 helicopter March 5, 2002 in Eastern Afghanistan. The soldiers were participating in the largest American offensive since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan.

The U.S. launched the war in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The conflict lasted two decades and spanned four U.S. presidencies, becoming the longest war in American history.

Why Isn't Washington, D.C. a State?

When the plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field on September 11, it was 20 minutes flying time from the nation's capital.

New York: Views of the World Trade Center (both of its twin towers still under construction) and Manhattan skyline views taken from New Jersey shore.

To build the twin towers, architects and engineers employed innovative—and sometimes unproven—techniques and technology.

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and members of the national security team receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House May 1, 2011, Washington, D.C.

The image captures a defining historic moment, as Barack Obama and his top advisers anxiously watch the high-stakes SEAL Team Six operation unfold.

8 Facts About the Hideout Where Osama bin Lived and Died

Before the 9/11 mastermind was killed in a SEAL Team raid in his Abbottabad, Pakistan compound, he and his family lived isolated, austere lives there.

Why Did US Forces Dump Osama Bin Laden’s Body at Sea?

Political, religious and practical considerations all played a role.

9 Unexpected Things Discovered in Osama bin Laden’s Hideout

From al Qaeda emails to Disney films to pornography, the terrorist leader had a wide array of diversions in his Pakistan hideout.

2020 Events, COVID-19 pandemic

2020 was a tumultuous year that saw the onset of a deadly pandemic, widespread protests over systemic racism—and a deeply contentious election.

The IRA Assassination of Lord Mountbatten: Facts and Fallout

The murder of the British royal and World War II hero signaled a dark period ahead for relations between England and Northern Ireland.

The cockpit voice recorder captured the sound of passengers attempting to break through the door.

'We pledge to never leave a fallen comrade behind,' says one of the survivors.

5 Ways September 11 Changed America

The attacks of 9/11 shocked the nation—and led to changes that altered U.S. government, travel and culture.

How Levee Failures Made Hurricane Katrina a Bigger Disaster

Breaches in the system of levees and floodwalls left 80 percent of the city underwater.

Hurricane Katrina

The 2005 hurricane and subsequent levee failures led to death and destruction—and dealt a lasting blow to leadership and the Gulf region.

There’s a saying that the worst of times bring out the best in people.

How the SARS Virus Spread Around the World

Slow reporting in China and an outbreak in a Hong Kong hotel led to over 8,000 infections in more than 20 countries.

Violence in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and West Africa has taken a toll on historic buildings and monuments.

Look back at 14 events, achievements, tragedies and otherwise memorable moments that stood out during the 2010s.

Zac Baker learns about America’s Vet Dogs and their mission to support veterans returning to civilian life.

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Take a look back at the most important events in politics, culture, science and the environment.

HISTORY: September 11 Photos

Images show devastation during the 2001 terror attacks, and the tragic aftermath.

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a callery pear tree emerged from the rubble. It now stands at ground zero as a symbol of hope.

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September 11, 2001, George W Bush on Air Force One

On September 11, the Secret Service decided the safest place for the president was on board Air Force One. But being in the skies added to the day’s confusion.

The Pentagon, 9/11 Attacks September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, 125 people inside the Pentagon were killed. The losses were devastating, but it could have been even worse.

Dick Cheney and the September 11 Attacks

The harrowing decision was made during the first hour after the attacks—by Vice President Cheney.

9/11 Memorial of the September 11 Attacks in New York City

Watch videos about the attacks of 9/11 and the aftermath.

The Firefighters of 9/11

The firefighter deaths on Sept. 11 amounted to more than a third of the approximately 1,000 emergency personnel at the scene.

Overspending, lower oil prices and political unrest all combined to trigger a decline for the once-prosperous nation.

In the wake of the attacks of 9/11, President George W. Bush called for a global "War on Terror," launching an ongoing effort to thwart terrorists before they act.

Congress gets a record number of women, The U.K. “brexits” and we commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The year 2018 was marked by milestones in the #MeToo movement, a contentious Supreme Court hearing, battles over immigration and a groundbreaking royal wedding.

The global terror network founded by Osama bin Laden has been responsible for thousands of deaths on 9/11 and several other deadly attacks across the globe.

A.J. Luna worked in security and convoy communications. The threat of being hit by a bomb or a sniper was constant.

Learn how decades of violence and volatility created the conditions for Al-Qaeda to rise and attack the U.S. on September 11, 2001. Understand how U.S. intelligence failed to anticipate the 9/11 attacks, despite growing threats and warning signs.

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Lehman Brothers

A look at what caused the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Among the missteps: lack of intel-sharing between agencies, tepid responses to earlier attacks and a failure to grasp the magnitude of the terrorists' ambitions.

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 14: A postcard picture of the twin towers lies amid the rubble of the World Trade Center, demolished in a terrorist attack.

From a bloodied pair of shoes, to IDs to jewelry, here is a look at some of the 9/11 Memorial Museum’s more than 11,000 artifacts—and the heavy stories they carry.

Manhattan mit World Trade Center / New York(GERMANY OUT) New York (Stadt). New York, USA: Skyline von Manhattan mit den Türmen des World Trade Centers. WTC, Twin Towers.

After the jets hit, stairwells became the sole means of escape for thousands of WTC occupants. But design choices hampered full evacuation—and made the descent even more harrowing.

On 9/11, Heather Penney Tried to Bring Down Flight 93 in a Kamikaze Mission

Her father might have been the pilot of United Flight 93, but Penney and her commanding officer had a singular focus.

2003 Blackout

For two days New Yorkers slept on sidewalks, walked home, even showered on the streets and generally made do as the city was crippled without power.

January 2005: Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Joe Bowser's "Wounded Warrior Project" backpack sits in the seat of his wheelchair in the physical therapy ward of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. as members of the Disabled American Veterans visit wounded soldiers who have recently returned from Iraq and are now receiving treatment.

Veterans and Wounded Warrior Project volunteers share what they’ve learned.

Learn about the origins of ISIS and its leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who terrorized Iraq's Shia Muslims with suicide bombers. Discover how successor Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi used social media to spread international terrorism before the group weakened.

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Osama bin Laden Take Down 2011

The operation to kill the world's most wanted terrorist was the result of years of planning and training.

Beyond the war on terror, Bush took significant action to combat AIDS, particularly in Africa.

Discover the confluence of events that prompted the Great Recession in America and its main culprit: the subprime mortgage housing crisis. Learn how the Great Recession affected the economy and how it differed from the Great Depression of the 1930s.

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US Military industrial complex, US army soldiers, salute

The military-industrial complex, a term made famous by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is the relationship between a country's military and armaments suppliers.

Passed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Patriot Act has created new rules on surveillance and national security in the U.S. See why some believe it has kept the country safer, while others believe it violates Americans' constitutional rights.

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Assistant Treasury Secretary Timothy Massad of the Office of Financial Stability, TARP Congressional Oversight Panel Chairman Ted Kaufman, Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Neil Barofsky and Thomas McCool, director of the Government Accountability Office's Center for Economics, participate in a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing, on March 17, 2011

Why TARP Was Created In 2008, Americans struggled under the Great Recession, the worst economic calamity since the Great Depression. While no single event is to blame for the financial crisis, many experts believe lax credit requirements for low-income ...

President Barack Obama signs the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection financial overhaul bill at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington. Pictured from left to right: Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, teacher Robin Fox, Vietnam veteran Andrew Giordano, Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Rep. M (Photo by Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)

The Dodd-Frank Act, signed into law by President Obama in 2010, placed regulations on lenders and banks to protect consumers and prevent another recession.

This year's most compelling cultural fare looked to the past. Here are our top picks.

President George W. Bush - USA Patriot Act Conversation - April 20, 2004President George W. Bush spoke alongside a local panel of John Moslow of the Amherst Police Department, Mike Battle, Larry Thompson, Jim McMahon and Peter Ahearn regarding the USA Patriot Act on April 20, 2004 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Marc Andrew Deley/FilmMagic)

The Patriot Act, signed into law following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011, expanded the surveillance capabilities of U.S. law-enforcement agencies.

2017 yielded a special counsel investigation into President Trump, protests over Confederate monuments and the first coast-to-coast solar eclipse in a century.

Learn about key moments in the Great Recession of 2007-09, from the collapse of Bear Stearns and the bank bailouts to the signing of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Job seekers attend a career fair at the Toyota Center in HouUNITED STATES - AUGUST 05: Job seekers attend a career fair at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009. The pace of U.S. job losses slowed more than expected last month and the unemployment rate dropped for the first time since April 2008, the clearest signs yet that the worst recession since the Great Depression is easing. (Photo by Scott Dalton/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Great Recession, which began in late 2007, roiled world financial markets as the longest period of economic decline since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Rice flown into North Korea, by the U.N. World Food Program, being unloaded in answer to the famine caused by severe floods, 1996. (Credit: AP Photo/HO)

“The Arduous March” wiped out hundreds of thousands—perhaps millions—of North Koreans.

Centuries before news media kept the War on Christmas in the headlines, the Puritans waged a longrunning battle to ban Christmas in Europe and the New World.

Osama bin Laden during an interview by a Pakistani journalist in 2001.

Two September 11 experts discuss the motives behind the attacks, how U.S. leaders missed so many warning signs and what it was like to meet Osama bin Laden.

FBI undercover asset Emad Salem with the Blind Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, leader of the first al-Qaeda terror cell on U.S. soil. Salem, who has military experience and martial-arts expertise, gained the trust of the terror cell’s leader and became his bodyguard.

Emad Salem, an Egyptian immigrant who went undercover with terrorists, helped prevent the bombing of multiple New York City landmarks.

Rubble of the World Trade Center following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 in New York City

Before 9/11, only a few dedicated law-enforcement and intelligence agents understood the enormity of the terrorists' ambitions. They had a hard time convincing their bosses.

U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. take cover as a 500 lb bomb explodes on a compound after the Marines took two days of enemy fire from the position in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan, 2009. (Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Afghanistan's location, its rough terrain and multiple ethnic groups and tribes make it a challenging place to wage war.

A picture shows a mural depicting the emblem of the Islamic State (IS) group

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria—also know as ISIS or ISIL—is a jihadist militant group and terrorist organization that formed in 1999.

robert hanssen

The former FBI agent was sentenced to life in prison for selling U.S. secrets to Moscow.

Explore the (mostly) secret history of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, aka SEAL Team Six.

Shirley Dreifus, owner of the now-iconic flag raised at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, tells the incredible story of the flag's role in the recovery, its disappearance, and the search to find it again.

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Bruce Powers, a volunteer at the 9/11 Tribute Center and Pentagon employee for over sixteen years, reflects on the events of attack on the Pentagon.

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Fifteen years later, volunteers from the 9/11 Tribute Center describe how the events of September 11, 2001 changed their lives.

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President George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and others look back on the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

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New Yorkers reflect on what the symbol of the Twin Towers meant to them and to the world.

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Volunteers from the 9/11 Tribute Center reflect on the importance of sharing their stories of 9/11 with future generations.

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Take a look at how 9/11 became a benchmark for whole generations of young Americans, influencing their attitudes about service, terror, and hope.

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Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former police commissioner Bernard Kerik reflect on the measures taken to lead New York City during the September 11th attacks.

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What happened to the flag hoisted at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001?

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How has the United States changed in the fifteen years since September 11, 2001? How will it continue to grow?

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Volunteers from the 9/11 Tribute Center reflect on how far the city and the country have come since September 11, 2001, and share the hopes they have for the future.

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After September 11, 2001, a heightened sense of security became the new normal.

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Volunteers from the 9/11 Tribute Center share their visions for the future after the events of September 11, 2001.

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Learn the facts and numbers behind the construction of One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.

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Volunteers from the 9/11 Tribute Center remember where they were and how they reacted on September 11th, 2001.

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Notable New Yorkers including former mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg and newsman Dan Rather remember where they were on September 11th.

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China, the first of the United Nations to suffer from Fascist aggression, is the first to sign the UNCIO Charter designed to prevent wars in the future.

Since its founding in 1945, the organization has been on the front lines of some of the biggest events in world history.

Learn the real-life story of Chris Kyle, the late Navy SEAL sharpshooter portrayed in the Oscar-nominated film “American Sniper.”

With many states currently selling medical marijuana in store fronts, it might seem like we are ushering in a new era for cannabis as medication—but in fact, history is actually repeating itself.

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After completing the 26.2 mile race, trauma surgeon Dr. David King found the energy to operate on victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

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Knocked down by the first blast, 78-year-old Bill Iffrig and his orange running jersey became an iconic image of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

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Personal tragedy brought Carlos Arredondo, "the man in the cowboy hat," to the finish line that day, but his spontaneous act of heroism helped save a life and change the course of the investigation into the attack.

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Reporter David Abel was shooting a documentary about the first woman with dwarfism to run the Boston Marathon when the bombs went off.

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Explosions At 117th Boston MarathonBOSTON - APRIL 15: Two explosions went off near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Boston Marathon Bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred on April 15, 2013 when two bombs—planted by brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev—went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Three spectators were killed more than 260 were injured.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 01: President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani did an on-camera interview with One America News Network's Chanel Rion before talking to other journalists about Vice President Joe Biden and the news that Russian intelligence may have paid Taliban operatives to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Rudy Giuliani is a former prosecutor who drew attention as New York City mayor for declining crime rates and his leadership following the September 11 attacks.

A pair of wings took flight from Arkansas to Afghanistan and carried with them the love of a mourning father. Part of the Emmy Award winning web series, Remembering 9/11.

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This video clip provided to "History Uncut" was taken immediately after the planes struck the two World Trade Center towers. We glimpse into the harrowing images of Manhattan that are not often shown in news broadcasts: a cameraman's frantic shadow fleeing the scene of disaster, emergency vehicles rendered unrecognizable by debris, and members of the NYPD who attempt to make sense out of the destruction.

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One of the most difficult issues to resolve in the design of the 9/11 Memorial was how to arrange the names of the victims, which are etched into the bronze parapets that ring the Memorial Pools.

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Alice Martin, who lost her husband on September 11, 2001, gets a private tour of the memorial site and learns the story of the Survivor Tree.

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Architects have overcome challenging terrain to build some of the world's greatest structures.

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The remarkable story of a heroic firefighter who survived the collapse of the North Tower.

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Alfie Alvarez reacts to footage she captured at City Hally Park on 9/11.

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Max Frankston reacts to footage he captured in SoHo on 9/11.

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Sam Riegel and Quyen Tran react to footage they captured in Gateway Plaza on 9/11.

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Caroline Dries reacts to footage she captured from her NYU dorm on 9/11.

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Cheryl Dunn reacts to footage she captured from her Maiden Lane apartment on 9/11.

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A brief explanation of why the towers collapsed on 9/11.

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Evan Fairbanks reacts to footage he captured inside WTC Building 5 on 9/11.

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A timeline of the events on September 11, 2001.

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John Kalymnois reacts to footage he captured in Tribeca on 9/11.

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The roots of modern day Al Qaeda can be traced back to the Muslim Brotherhood organization that began in Egypt. Find out how Osama Bin Laden made connections to the different leaders who helped him eventually plan and carry out the events of September 11th.

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David Vogler reacts to footage he captured from the West side on 9/11

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The incredible story of Todd Beamer's call to GTE Operator and the heroism on Flight 93.

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The remarkable story of Stanley Praimnath and Brian Clark's escape from the South Tower on 9/11.

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9/11 Attacks (September 11, 2001)

In September 2001, al-Qaida terrorists hijacked three passenger planes and carried out coordinated suicide attacks against the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. All passengers and crew on board the planes were killed, as were nearly 3,000 people on the ground.

Challenges of Rebuilding After 9/11 Immediately after 9/11, a number of prominent leaders—including New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and U.S. President George W. Bush—pledged to quickly rebuild the World Trade Center site as an inspiring symbol o...

The 9/11 Commission Report, September 11 Attacks

The 9/11 Commission Report was published on July 22, 2004, three years after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The report studied U.S. preparedness and responsiveness to the attacks and provided recommendations to guard against future threats.

SEAL Team Six's security and counterterrorism missions have ranged from Grenada to Bosnia to Iraq.

Reproduction of a Neanderthal woman at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, Spain

As 2011 prepares to make its arrival, we take a look at some of the most exciting and consequential stories from this year in history.

9/11 Attacks: Flight 93 memorial photos (September 11, 2001)

United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked by members of the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001. It crashed down in a field in rural Pennsylvania, never reaching its intended target because its crew and passengers fought back against the terrorists.

Ground Zero, 9/11 Attacks

Following the attacks of 9/11, the World Trade Center site was referred to as "Ground Zero" or "the Pile." Thousands of first responders and others rushed to the area in New York City's Lower Manhattan to search for survivors.

Reaction to 9/11, President Bush at Ground Zero with the FDNY after the attacks on September 11, 2001

Shortly after the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001, the nation began to mourn, and around the country Americans began to commemorate the victims and demonstrate their patriotism, although backlash against Arab Americans and others also emerged.

9/11 Attacks, September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

Debris from the space shuttle Columbia streaks across the Texas sky as seen from Dallas. (Credit: Jason Hutchinson/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

The space shuttle Columbia broke apart on February 1, 2003, while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members. The disaster, which occurred over Texas, was caused by a piece of foam insulation that broke off the shuttle’s propellant tank and damaged the edge of the shuttle’s left wing.

Islamic extremist Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden founded the Islamist militant group Al Qaeda and was believed responsible for deadly acts of terrorism such as the September 11, 2001 attacks.